Improving quality of life

Comet employees in San Jose collect 3,200 meals for the "Second Harvest"

January 07, 2021

As digitalization experiences an unprecedented boom due to COVID-19, we would be tempted to think that the population of the Silicon Valley, known as the cradle of innovations, is still doing better than anywhere else. But reality seems different...

Since the beginning of the pandemic, just as in most other parts of the world, unemployment in Silicon Valley has been steadily increasing, impoverishing with it the humblest families for whom the simple act of feeding themselves decently has very untimely become a real challenge. In the Silicon Valley region alone Second Harvest has already registered 500,000 people receiving food from the association – double the number they served before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Exceptional times require unprecedented mobilization. Just like other notably active players in the semiconductor industry in the region, Comet employees have gathered to collect the equivalent of 3,200 meals for the Second Harvest association, which helps the most destitute families.

“Our people were asking to donate before the campaign even starts. I think over holidays people realize how lucky they are, and want to contribute to help the community”

Rachelle Sgarlato - Supervisor of Administrative Services and fundraising coordinator - Comet, San Jose

Not the first time

In fact, Comet San Jose employees did not wait for the pandemic to help. Every year around Thanksgiving and over the past several years, they have been contributing with non-perishable food that they collected in "barrels" made available by the Second Harvest of Silicon Valley.

This year, due to sanitary restrictions, the association had to adapt the way it provided aid; collections were made digitally, namely in the form of a virtual barrel to fill with donations. The method of distribution of food has also been adapted to reduce physical contact. For the Covid-hit year 2020, volunteers contributed 255,000 hours of service, the equivalent of nearly 123 full-time employees

We are extremely proud of our people’s and Second Harvest’s initiative and we would like to take the opportunity to invite everyone in joining them. Different campaigns are ongoing, such as virtual food drives or funds donations, that we take the opportunity to support. Will you too?

2019 food collection at Comet San Jose for Second Harvest

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